Tale of the Outcast Warrior: Raids, and dinosaurs.

Tyler smiled as he closed the HUD and kissed Yoko again.

"Nice to see I'm riling people."

The sexy raccoon girl sighed happily.

"I'm riled."

"Another round?"

"Please?"

She he mounted her again and she welcomed him with a warm hug and a ready slit. She got more cream and another set of orgasms before they fell satisfied again. She smiled.

"Bath time!"

He laughed as they cleaned up. Yoko sighed after.

"I need to rest and eat now."

HE kissed her again.

"We leave for Term day after tomorrow."

"Will you come back after the wave?"

HE kissed her lovingly.

"We own Spearview. So, yes."

She smiled happily as her raccoon tail flicked him.

"A fine home."

"A fine raccoon."

She sighed.

"I'm hungry and tired now."

They dressed and he said goodbye before heading out. He rubbed his chin and noticed something.

"I need to clean up and get a hair cut."

The spirits laughed as he said this. Tyler thought for a moment before heading to the tavern where kaori was. He found the blonde playing with a giggling Melly when he walked in. She looked up at his approaching footsteps and smiled.

"Have fun with Yoko?"

HE kissed her.

"yup. Now, I need a favor."

She smiled as she looked at his head.

"That time already?"

"Yup."

Melly giggled.

"He has you help him with his hair?"

The blonde smiled fondly.

"Yeah. I'd cut his hair and he'd tie mine up. It was kinda our thing back in our world."

"Aww that's romantic!"

Tyler patted the girl on her head, seeing she still wore her crown of coral. Then the couple headed for the mansion to see if it was ready.

"I got a spell for haircuts."

He kissed her.

"Of course you do Shadow."

She smiled as they walked through the main door and headed to their room. They walked in and gasped in happy shock. The furniture had been delivered and the room set up perfectly. Tyler walked to his side of the massive bed where the racks were and kaori looked through her vanity. Sallie and Sylvia donned their shell forms to lay in their beds before Kaori pulled a small stool to the center of the room.

"Alright. Assume the position."

He laughed as he took his shirt off for her and sat on the stool. She pulled the spell up.

"The usual right?"

"Yeah. I get six months out of it each time."

"Alright. You need to shave by the way."

"Well, wanna use our hotspring together after?"

"Oh HELL yeah."

She cast the spell and his hair burst into flames. He trusted her enough to let her do her thing and when the flames went out, his mangy looking hair had been replaced with his usual shirt cut. Sallie and Sylvia giggled.

"He don't like hair."

"Nope."

The couple headed to the indoor hotspring and got in together. She sighing with relief as he used a steam proof mirror with his Sgian Dao to shave the telltale black mess on his face. She smiled as he finished.

"Wow, Tyler. You looked years younger."

HE chuckled as he cleaned the mess.

"And you still look beautiful."

She sat by him and they cuddled in the hot water.

"We have our own mansion Kaori."

She smiled.

"We have our own HOME Tyler."

He kissed her and she sighed.

"Let's wait for the sex until tonight. Seems right that way."

"Our first time in our new bed during our first night in our first home?"

"Exactly."

The lovers bathed together before getting dressed and leaving the house.

"You getting another set of bills?"

"Yeah. We need the practice."

She kissed him hard.

"Have fun."

They parted and he headed off to the guild. He found Wulf and Vixen already looking at bills as he walked over.

"See anything good?"

The black mage passed him one.

"This seems promising."

He looked at it curiously.

"Wanted: Killing of a Gnoll camp. Reward 65 silver. Gnolls?"

Wulf chuckled.

"A member of the troll family just minus the smell. Think those hobgoblins but with a dog's head. A camp could hold up to 50 creatures, and they collect coins."

Tyler smiled.

"This one is?"

"Three hours from the south gate."

"Nice. Anything else in that way?"

Wulf passed him another.

"Wanted: Slaying of an Orc camp. 35 silver reward. Decent. I think we can send the girls on this raid with you Wulf."

The ranger nodded in agreement.

"My thoughts exactly. Especially since I'd take Lucy and Thistle too."

"Just in case. Alright they do well here, they're just need experience."

HE took the second bill as he saw one that made him smile. He took it down.

"Wanted: Slaying of a Nightmare. Reward 55 gold."

Vixen smiled now as well.

"A Nightmare? A rare beast indeed."

"A horse?"

"Indeed. An undead horse. They're created when the noble beast is used in a necromantic summon for a stronger undead. But the spell always backfires and the poor creature gets cursed instead. In terms of strength, their more high lich."

"They worth anything?"

"Not really. Just undead practice as you put it."

"Plus Kaori would feel better putting such a tortured steed to rest."

He added it as Verilica came forward now.

"That one has an update Tyler."

HE smiled at the imp.

"What we got?"

"The bounty was increased to 60 after the last adventurer fell to the beast. Plus, upon completion you get the Brown spell Horse Relief. Think Holy Relief but for horses."

Tyler smiled as he looked at Vixen.

"Kaori?"

"Kaori."

Wulf smiled as he pulled another down.

"Got one for a Tyrant."

Tyler looked at him.

"A tyrant?"

Wulf smiled.

"Think large bipedal creature with short front legs, long back legs, massive jaws and a long sinewy tail."

Tyler reached into his pouch, pulled a piece of paper and used an enchanted pencil to draw a quick sketch of a T-rex.

"Like this?"

Wulf chuckled.

"Exactly like that. I assume you had them in your world too?"

He laughed as he put the diagram away.

"We did millions of years ago. I saw them in a movie and loved them. Can we eat them?"

"Oh yes. They're right up their with Wyvern. This being a plains Tyrant, we can expect good meat, scales, bone, teeth, and claws. Reward is 30 gold too."

Verilica smiled now.

"That one has an update as well."

"How bad?"

"it has killed the last ten adventurers that have gone after it. As such, the reward is now 50 gold."

"Nice."

"Got one for a Death Gaze."

Tyler looked at Vixen.

"That is a….?"

She chuckled.

"A type of serpent. 20 feet long, two feet thick, venomous, and prowls the plains. Reward is 15 gold. The meat is nasty, the skin is valuable, the fangs too, and the venom even more so."

Verilica chuckled.

"When the Outcasts need practice they don't go easy. There is a stipulation on that one. The venom must be presented for payment. Plus it comes with the Black Spell Adder Bite."

Vixen's eyes lit up.

"A rare one indeed."

Tyler added it to the pile. Wulf whistled next.

"There's a rare beast."

He pulled a bill for a two legged thing that reminded Tyler of a two legged hippo that stood ten feet tall.

"What is it?"

"A Durandal. It's hunted for its meat, skin, and bones as they're great supports. Reward is 10 gold."

"Wow. Weird bunch. Okay, we'll take three more and get to it."

Vixen pulled one down.

"Wanted: Destruction of a bandit camp here the south road. Reward 75 silver."

"Nice. Bandits are fun."

Tyler added the bill and looked at Wulf as he pulled another one down.

"Wow. Another golem."

"I will try NOT to get caught under the thing."

They chuckled. Wulf passed the bill.

"20 gold? Not bad for fighting a rock."

"Got one for a Dreidal."

"What the hell?"

Vixen smiled.

"A bird the size of this hall. Think vulture but that big. Things are native to the plains and are valuable for their feathers, beaks, talons and nests. Reward is 80 silver."

Tyler tilted his head.

"Now that I think of it, we haven't fought a straight up flyer yet. Closet we got was the rock drakes in TopLeaf. We'll take it and get to it."

They nodded and went to the mansion to setup the hunt. Tyler walked into his office and laid the bills on a board as they waited for the rest of the party to arrive. Wulf chuckled as he saw the setup.

"It weird this fits you way too well?"

Tyler smiled as he opened the map up on the desk.

"I know right? Feels weird though."

The party came in a few minutes later and Tyler passed the bills around. Kaori took one look at the nightmare bill and got teary eyed. Tyler patted her hand.

"We'll put it to rest."

She smiled as she put the bill in her pouch.

"I'll do this one."

"I'll lend my undead spells."

She kissed him for that as Sera and Lily looked at the Orc camp with Lillica.

"So, we're hitting this one alone?"

"With Wulf, Lucy and Thistle."

The girls nodded.

"alright."

Tyler smiled as the party were brought up to speed.

"Mount up."

The party got their horses before riding out to the first target, the Orc camp on the way to the Gnoll camp. Wulf beside Tyler as they went. Kaori was on his left. The creatures had set up their camp near a small cave, and Tyler chuckled as Wulf led them to the spot.

"Once the things are dead blow the whistle. We'll loot the things together."

The girls nodded. The ranger had them hitch up next to some trees as he took Sera, Lily, and Lillica on their raid with Lucy and Thistle. Kaori pulled up beside him as the shapes were lost.

"Seems a little wrong doesn't it?"

He chuckled.

"right? Goes against the grain, not going with them."

He pulled the catalog crystal out and Kaori chuckled.

"looking to upgrade already?"

"More looking just to see."

She smiled as they looked.

"That plaque could be a great mantle piece."

"Especially if we get a decent head to mount on it"

Tyler flipped to the next room. As the crystal could be used to view the options room by room without having to be in the mansion.

"Hey, we should set a room up as an actual armory for the weapons we DON'T want to sell."

Kaori nodded as she went to the stables.

"Still not happy?"

"Never."

Tyler kissed her warmly.

"Love you too."

She sighed happily as they looked at more rooms. Then their whistles vibrated. The party dismounted and headed to see the mess. Tyler was happily whistling as they walked into the remains of the camp. HE saw Lily, Sera and Lillica smiling as they wiped weaponry clean in the center of the piles of bodies. Wulf came over smiling.

"How'd they do?"

"They formed a triangle in the center of the camp. Not a scratch against 75 orcs and a 20 foot hill. Lillica got it with a bow."

Tyler smiled as he hugged the girls.

"Well done ladies. This camp and job's yours to claim."

Lillica was smiling widely as they got to looting.

"It was a little nerve racking. Not having you looming around us, but we did our best."

Lucy and Thistle laughed.

"We didn't even have to lift a finger."

"Aye, the lasses be learning well."

Tyler patted Lily and Vixen.

"Let's go look at that cave."

they nodded and headed inside the small tunnel. They headed right to the back of the cave as Tyler used his detection for hollow feelings.

"Got one. Lily that large boulder, don't touch it."

The girls nodded as he lifted the 600 pound rock and put it aside. They got a mild surprise inside the hollow.

"Wow. We found a minor trove. Nice."

It was true. There was a three foot pile of coins and a few gems glittering in the hidden alcove. Tyler looked at Vixen confused.

"I didn't know Orcs kept troves."

She smiled.

"They don't. This must be a forgotten trove of some other creature."

Tyler shrugged.

"Theirs now."

That got a smile as they got to looting. Lily prospecting the walls as Tyler and Vixen collected the last copper. Grand total? 150 gold, 500 silver, 865 copper. Lily chuckled.

"Got some more coal, iron, a thick vein of tin, and a good bit of Malachite."

Tyler blinked at that last one.

"Malachite?"

The elven smith smiled.

"Yeah. Used to make sea green glass. Or VERY sharp swords and beautiful armor. I can't work it just yet, but that was my next level of metal workin. I'd appreciate keeping it for me smithy."

"This is YOUR raid, Lily. Of course."

She smiled as he tore the valuable ores from the walls before examining the cave. Tyler used his detection on the rest of the cave and found no more hollows. Then he joined Lily in using prospect.

"Got some good clay here."

"Clay's sellable?"

"To masons. They use it in brick works. It's maybe worth a few coppers but hey, better an nothing."

"You're the expert."

Tyler dug the seemingly worthless mineral from the cave as Lily kept going.

"Nice. Got some Andesite."

"Andesite?"

"used as a decorative stone. Think marble but not marble."

"Weird world this. Just walk into most any random cave and BANG some kind of valuable ore or mineral. Are they that common?"

The two natives chuckled.

"Most don't bother to LOOK. In truth we have no idea what really IS rare or common. As no one bothers to look in the first place. You find these so easily because you're so thorough. Most just look for the blatantly obvious and don't look deeply."

"Eh. Their loss."

That got a laugh as they walked out with the Andesite, 300 lbs of clay, which Tyler still thought was a waste of space, the coal, iron, Malachite, tin, a few veins of zinc and lead, and a random vein of copper. Tyler walked over to where Sera and Lillica were looking their gear.

"Well girls, there was a mini trove in there."

Sera's blue eyes lit up like lights.

"How much?"

"150 gold, 500 silver, 865 copper."

She hugged him with a happy squeal as lily brought her up to speed on the ore. They then went back to the horses. The next was the Gnoll camp and Tyler smiled as they went.

"Wulf, Kaori, Malico, annnnd, Serafina."

The names smiled and readied weapons. The party hitched up as the hunters moved off into the small forest of rocky protrusions. After a ten minute one they reached the camp and Tyler got his first look at a Lectis Gnoll. The things were 9 feet tall, were covered in short matted fur of a shit brown color, had bushy tails that made Tyler rather angry for their insult to the tails he loved, and had the heads of German shepherds. Tyler smiled.

"Well who-"

"Shut up."

"Barbie."

The group looked at him curiously. Kaori sighed.

"I have the song."

"Oh, there's an idea."

"Shit."

HE hit the song Who let the dogs out, and they launched their attack. There were approximately 40 creatures in the camp, all armed with various spears, axes, and the occasional long pike. Wulf shot arrows from a rock on the edge, Tyler and Kaori waded into the middle of the pack, and Malico and Serafina hunted along the outsides of the group and kept them off balance. Tyler wielded Oblivion and Oathkeeper, his twin short swords, and Kaori her katana Dawn. The fight lasted all of ten minutes before the last beast fell. Tyler and Kaori were smiling as they sliced the last dog headed thing before looting. Tyler prospected the small rock wall and came up with more clay, tin and zinc. They walked away with 65 silver. Tyler was whistling as Wulf chuckled.

"I see Kaori's issue with the song."

"Oddly enough, in our world when it came out it was a massive world wide hit."

"Your world is most bizarre."

"You ain't seen NOTHING yet."

The next task in this direction was a bandit camp on the way back in. Tyler had a thoughtful look as they neared it and Kaori noticed.

"Thinking of sending the girls again?"

"Yeah. Only Vixen and Ashy have yet to get any action. Eh, I'll send them as a group."

The group smiled as Wulf led them to the camp for their raid. Tyler pulled his Bestiary up and was looking it over as the kill party left. Malico was curious.

"What are you looking for, Tyler?"

"Looking to see there a way to make a book or some kind of compendium of the things we've killed for references in my office."

Kaori chuckled.

"Of course you'd think like that."

Lucy smiled,

"Aye lad, there be a service fer that at the guild. That Imp can make such a resource for coin."

"Thanks Lucy. We'll have a decent number of creatures to start with so most any in the region will be more or less accounted for."

Malico was happily basking in the sunlight on her horse as she watched him work. Kaori had a thought.

"Hey, is a there a codex?"

"Damn, Shadow. Good question."

HE went back to the main HUD and flipped through the tabs.

"I got a prospector's guide."

He opened it and chuckled.

"It's for minerals, ores, gems, and other raw materials. I can add these to our references. I don't think we got a codex though."

The blonde sighed.

"That sucks."

"I guess since the only things we really need to keep an eye on are the monsters and minerals. Oh, that's the bell."

They headed off as the whistles were blown. They found the camp dead to the last man and Lily standing triumphantly by a man with a red sword and shield. Tyler smiled as he went over to the small elf girl.

"Well, Lily?"

She flexed her shield arm.

"I killed me first Shielder. And you were right, the key was the feet. He was the leader, so can you see if he's got a bounty?"

Tyler lifted the man's face.

"Let's see how bad they want to find you. Yup. Markus the Wall. Reward dead is….75 gold. Sword and Shield together another 150 gold each as they are stolen goods. Nice one Lily."

She beamed with pride as he collected the head and weapons for her. Vixen came over next.

"We found a few banned as well."

"Wow, been a while hasn't it? Malico!"

"Got em."

"Love you kittycat!"

She purred as Tyler looked around.

"So, how'd it go?"

The beautiful black mage smiled.

"Flawlessly. Lily walked into the camp and got their attention as Ashy and Wulf fired arrows, Sera and Lillica were moving along the rim of the tents with the bows, and I dealt with their mages. Her fight with the leader was rather beautiful to was, as she danced around his sword like it was not moving."

"I taught her myself."

Lily was smiling as she helped loot.

"Momma didn't raise no fool."

"Damn right she didn't."

Tyler spotted a rocky outcrop by the back of the camp and shrugged.

"Worth a shot."

They laughed as he used prospect on the monoliths.

"Camp's clean!"

"What we get?"

"10 gold, 98 silver, and 150 copper. The head, sword and shield, a few potions and poisons, them, and that's it."

"Nice job everyone. I got a hunk of granite here and some more tin."

They smiled as he extracted the stone and ore. Then they mounted back up to move on.

"Let's see. The next kill is….wow. the Durandal. I wanna fight that thing."

Wulf smiled.

"Just watch it's kicks and body tackles. It and crack the walls of Raylik with a single charge."

"Sounds like a fun fight."

They laughed as they rode along. They stowed the horses in the shelter of a small forest as Tyler looked at the party.

"Lucy, Thistle, Wulf, Annnd, Hmm. Malico."

They nodded and hopped down got to moving through the woodland. They felt the heavy footsteps before they saw the beast, and as they came around a bend, they saw the thing. It was 12 feet tall, stood on two legs three feet thick, was a deep blue oddly enough for a plains dweller, had the head of a hippo, and that head seemed to be directly connected to the legs. Tyler rubbed it his.

"Okay, we're fighting a hippo on stilts."

The party moved in for the kill. Tyler had Gliepnir ready as Lucy and Thistle their large axes. Malico and Wulf had their bows up as they waited to take the eyes. Tyler and the two melee fighters got the things attention and it pivoted on a leg with a avalanche roar before it tried to kick at them with a thick leg. It was faster then it's ungainly posture would suggest, but Tyler ducked and slashed the other leg with Gliepnir, as Lucy slammed her axe enhanced with rock smash and Thistle followed suit. Result? The leg being severed neatly at the top of the strange hoof like thing it used as a foot. The beast toppled with a bellow of pain and Tyler was right there to plunge the 5 foot broadsword into the beast side. It sputtered and died. Tyler smiled as he pulled the dripping blade free.

"That was kinda fun, even if a little quick."

The party was summoned and the butchering underway. Tyler noticed the thing had blue blood for some freakin reason, and that Vixen collected as much of it as she could. When asked,

"It's an ingredient for blue dye in clothing and cosmetics for women."

Tyler had just shrugged and looked at Kaori as she lifted a leg bone into a pouch. She smiled, having heard the conversation.

"Looking to make me prettier again?"

"Like you can GET any more beautiful. Just picturing you with blue hair."

She'd blushed happily before giving him a kiss as they literally took the ENTIRE animal. The next was the Nightmare and kaori was on the raid with Vixen and Ashy. Wulf would help track it, and provide watch as they put the poor beast out of its misery. They did not have to look far. The hunters found the wretched thing butting its rotting head on a tree in an attempt to do something. It was the size of thunder, but was a rotted corpse that still moved. Kaori took her bow as Tyler placed Holy fire and Holy Smite upon her bow. She took aim and fired. It hit the once-noble animal in the shoulder and it screamed in relief as its tortured soul was purified and it's agonized existence ended. It dropped to the ground with a dull thud and Tyler retrieved the arrow as Kaori was just saddened for the thing's fate. Tyler hugged her until she felt better and they moved on. The next kill was the Plains Tyrant. Tyler's eyes were lit up with the fire of facing such a beast in open combat. Ashy was as well.

"Can I join this one?"

"Sure, Ashy. It'll be you, Kaori, Wulf, Annnd Sera."

The girl giggled as he said her name. They moved into the plains as Wulf led the way. The ranger showed them to a series of tracks that tyler just smiled at.

"I'd know these anywhere. Tyrannosaur."

Ashy smiled as she pulled her bow.

"So you know? Next time we get a boon like the crystal, I'm asking for our movie collections."

"I fucking love you Ashy."

The ranger smirked and stole a kiss off Ashy's surprised lips, and Tyler retaliated with a makeout session from Kaori. The girls just looked at each other bemused as the men played their little game.

"I think we were just the objects of a little competition."

"I think so too."

"What will we do in retaliation?"

"What will we do indeed Ashy?"

Sera giggled as they moved after the fell creature's tracks. Tyler took the lead this time.

"These things are minutes old. From the depth it's more roaming that hunting right now, so it'll pick our scent up. We should hear it's bellow in 3…2...1...."

A loud, deep, trumpeting roar of warning was heard from ahead. Tyler smiled as he heard the sound.

"We got five minutes of running before we sight the thing. It knows its being hunted and will move to attack us first. Once we feel the ground shake, we got thirty seconds."

Wulf blinked at his rather astoundingly deep knowledge of the creature.

"Where did you get ranger training?"

"I didn't. these things were a native of our world before they went extinct. Everything I know came from books and a few movies I memorized. I always wanted to kill one."

The elf shook his head as they felt the ground shaking. Tyler chuckled.

"Ashy, your left!"

She jumped as the massive predator came tearing out of the small copse of woodland they were passing with a nasty snap of branches and crunching jaws. In size it was 20 feet tall, stood and two hind legs with a rigid tail for a counterbalance, two tiny forearms, and a 5 foot head with large jaws with rows or backward pointing razor teeth. In color is was a dirty tan with darker brown tiger stripes along the back, red eyes, and had a two foot horn on the snout. The party smiled as Tyler's surprisingly in depth knowledge was on display.

"The heart is just above the forearm! Same with the lung!"

They heeded his words and as the thing sought to distinguish a target, Ashy fired a Dragon scale arrow into the thing's side enhanced with Death's Pierce. Just a penetration shaft. It struck home and the beast dropped dead from a perfect heart shot. Tyler clapped her on the back as the rest of the party came to get to work. However.

"Kaori, the crystal please."

She laughed and set it to get a shot of the party taking poses around the creature. Sera and Lily were leaning against the head, Sallie and Sylvia took Shell Form to join them, Lucy was resting her hands on her hands ion her axe beside the beasts back, Wulf and Ashy were sitting on the thing's back, Thistle was by the neck, Vixen and Serafina were leaning on the tail, Malico was stretched out luxuriously on the neck, Kaori was standing on the neck and Tyler had Gliepnir slung over a shoulder as he perched on the head with Lillica by Sera. The shot was taken and they loved the way it looked.

"Gods the jaw alone could swallow poor Sera alive whole!"

They saved it to Kaori's crystal and got to work butchering the beast. They took the entire animal again, and Tyler smiled as he looked at the skull.

"We're putting THAT thing in a trophy room at the mansion."

Ashy nodded.

"Damn straight we are."

Once the beast was stored away, Tyler looked at their leftover bills.

"Okay, the Orcs, Gnolls, bandits, Nightmare, Durandal, and the Tyrant are dead. Next we have the Dreidal, Death gaze, Golem annnnd, that's it. Not bad for a few hours rampage."

Wulf looked at the Death gaze bill.

"I hate them things. Pain in the ass to track."

"Well, let's kill it then."

They laughed as they moved on. The snake was said to have denned up in a small ring of rocks near the road to the west as easy access to food. They moved along at a decent clip until they found the last known spot.

"Okay, Vixen, Lillica, Lily, Annnd, Wulf."

They nodded and got to it. The ranger popped a stamina potion and sighed.

"Been a while since I've had to work this hard this long."

"Good practice for Ashy then."

"Fuck you."

"We've been over this."

They found the ring in question and Tyler chuckled as he saw it empty.

"Really? Thing's gone pit viper."

He pulled a fist sized rock from the ground and hurled it into the sandy area with a grunt of effort. The result was painfully predictable, as the sand exploded in an enraged hissing as the merely-a-giant cobra rose in a huff. Tyler sighed as he pulled his bow and shot the thing with an arrow in the center of it's body five feet from it's head as it reared. He hit it's lung and it dropped as it choked to death on it's own blood. Wulf looked at him.

"And you learned that from?"

"Snakes were a favorite creature of mine in my world."

"Just gonna smile and nod."

They laughed. Vixen used her training as a black mage to collect the venom as the others skinned the thing. They didn't take the meat, as according to Wulf.

"It's poisonous to us."

They walked away with a twenty foot snake skin, the venom, and the foot long fangs. Next up was the Dreidal. Tyler smiled as he picked the crew.

"Sera, Lillica, Ashy, Kaori, Annnd. Sorry, Wulf again."

He chuckled.

"I get it. I'm the only real guide we have out here."

They smiled at that. They rode to the spot the bill said to look, and Tyler smiled as he saw the 300 foot rock face.

"20 gold says it's nest is at the base."

The blonde sighed.

"Been a while since you've rigged a bet."

They laughed as they neared the face. The thing was to be brought down with bows, so the party had theirs up and ready. Tyler was watching for a surprise diving attack, as Wulf pointed to the base of the cliff.

"Got it."

The Outcast looked, and sure enough, the giant bird was sitting in it's nest. Tyler smiled.

"Let's get it airborne BEFORE we bring it down."

The party walked into view and the beast shrieked. In appearance? It was an over sized turkey vulture. The thing flapped into the air and was circling to gain height when the arrows found it. It came down with a squawk and hit the ground a heavy impact. Tyler smiled.

"I'll clear the nest if you wanna pluck the bird."

The tasks agreed on, Tyler climbed into the thirty foot nest. He spotted maybe twenty eggs in a neat circle and smiled.

"Hey, Wulf. The eggs any good?"

The ranger laughed.

"They are. They make great breakfasts. How many you got?"

"Twenty so far."

"Nice haul."

Tyler collected the eggs and scrounged about in the mass of sticks, mud, dirt, and rocks. He came up with a few gems, and 35 silver coins. He shrugged.

"Not a total waste I guess."

The bird was plucked and the party moved on to the golem. As they went, Kaori made a call.

"When we get back to Raylik, we'll need to let the horses rest a while."

"Kay. We'll do a bit of selling and rest for a while as well."

The party nodded as they moved to the Golem's last seen. Tyler brought the whole party this time in case of the thing falling again. They found the golem easily enough, and Tyler noted the red color. Lily smiled as she saw it.

"Looks like it's made of red quartz."

Tyler led the attack as usual, and the ten foot thing spun to kick him. Only for a mass of arrows from the archer's bows to slam into the thing's chest. It rumbled and fell backwards this time with an earthshaking thud.

"Nice kill Ashy!"

Lily got to prospecting as Tyler took his pickaxe out. They walked away with ten tons of red Quartz, three veins of gold, and one four thick vein of Blood Platinum. The red metal getting whistles of awe from the natives.

"Watch that dwarf's eyes bug out when he sees it."

Tyler mounted up and rode back to Raylik. They got back late in the afternoon and they stabled the horses in their mansion under the care of the newly hired hand. Then Tyler went with Wulf to collect payment with Sera and the two girls as two jobs were theirs. Verilica was sitting in her booth and smiled as they approached.

"Back already?"

"Just for you."

She smiled as they laid out the bills.

"The orcs and bandits are claimed by Sera, Lillica and Lily here."

"Well done girls. Your total this time is 125 gold, 175 silver, Horse relief, and Adder Bite."

Tyler smiled as he added the coins to the pouch.

"Lily, we'll go collect your bounty now. Sera and Lillica go relax."

The elf girl smiled as the two princesses headed off. Wulf smiled as they went.

"You trust their strength enough to let them go alone now?"

"In Raylik? Yes. In a new city? No. Not until I've looked it over myself."

Wulf chuckled as they walked into the spear.

"Fair policy."

They found Yoko in her booth, and the pretty raccoon smiled as Tyler came up with the two elves.

"Miss me?"

He leered at her.

"Only a lot. Lily's got a bounty."

The girl placed the head on the tray.

"Markus the Wall."

Yoko smiled as the elf placed the sword and Shield on the rack. The raccoon waited till the identity was confirmed.

"Well done Lily. Your total today is 375 gold."

She took the pouch and gave it to Tyler. She smiled proudly.

"I'll use it to get materials for me smithy."

"Can't wait to see what you come up with."

Lily headed off to the mansion as the men headed for the exchange. The found Grilock and the gnome laughed.

"You work hard. What are they this time?"

"Tyrant, Durandal, Dreidal, various ores, and that's all this time."

"You know the drill."

Once the permit was seen and verified they went to the scales. Grilock just shook his head at the amount.

"Still keeping the meats I see."

"We eat a lot."

The kindly gnome laughed.

"Okay, for what you have given me, I can give you 453 gold, 86 silver, and 46 copper."

Wulf chuckled.

"This point, why bother asking me?"

"Deal."

Tyler got the money and they went to the mason yard. The same man was working and he laughed as they approached.

"Lookin to be my new supplier?"

"Not sure yet."

The man chuckled.

"Well, whaddya got this time?"

"More golem stone, Andesite, Clay, Annnd I think that's it."

"Nice to see good stone and clay for once."

Tyler and Wulf added the material into the bucket and the foremen shook his head.

"You have a keen eye for stone. I can give you 350 gold, 55 silver and 43 coppers."

"Deal."

The last trip was the bank. They went to the dwarf's booth and he laughed.

"Whatcha got this time?"

"Gold, copper, Blood Platinum and silver."

The dwarf blinked.

"Blood Platinum ya say? I haven't seen such a treasure in three hundred years."

Tyler placed the ores on the slab for appraisal. Soon as the dwarf saw the red metal he shook his head.

"Blood Platinum it be lad. A most precious metal indeed. Okay, for the lot, I can give you 850 gold, 87 silver, and 65 copper."

Tyler whistled in awe in awe at the number.

"Outta curiosity, what's the Platinum worth and used fer?"

"That much? 600 gold. It's used for high level offerings to the Scale. They say if you make an offering of Blood Platinum to the Scale, they get tipped ever more in your favor."

Tyler chuckled.

"Good to know. Deal."

Tyler and Wulf walked out of the bank with a new grand total of 30,255 gold, 2,256 silver and 2,967 copper. Tyler shook his head at the sum.

"We have enough to buy a country, Wulf."

The ranger laughed.

"An interesting spot right? We have wealth akin to a capital city, and yet we just use it for bait really."

They laughed as they returned to the mansion. Wulf went to go rest, and Tyler headed for Lily's smithy to give her the ore before he accidently sold it. HE smiled as he heard the elven girl working on her craft, as the sounds of hammer blows and her humming in time to the blows made him happy for her. She scares me sometimes with her intensity, but I love her to death. HE saw her with a billet of some metal in her large oven-like forge and was removing it with a small pair of tongs. HE leaned on a post to watch her work. She placed the metal on her hundred pound anvil and was hammering the yellow metal into the shape of a single edged sword. HE smiled as he saw the shape. Interesting choice Lily. A Falchion. Wonder who that's for? He happily watched as she worked the metal into shape before putting it back in the forge to reheat. She grabbed a cup of water as she waited.

"You can come in now."

HE chuckled fondly as she spoke.

"I can't sneak up on eh?"

She chuckled.

"Nope. Ya got five minutes before the metal be ready. What's up?"

"Just dropping your ore off."

She gestured to a small pile.

"Coal there. Iron there, tin in that pile there, and the Malachite in this one here please."

"Sure."

He seperated the ore as she asked, and her piles doubled. He gave her a happy hug before heading inside and leaving her to her work. He headed up to his office to store the bills they'd completed as a reference. He sat in the chair and pulled the large ledger he'd gotten for the party's stats. First he opened his own, and smiled as he saw he'd had over 500 to throw. Holy shit. When was the last time I did a stat ANYTHING? He looked at his previous numbers, and found them to have been boosted significantly. His strength was at a staggering 600 now, agility 550, stealth 450, physical defense 650, speed 500, magic 600, stamina 750, and mana 800. BEFORE his 500 extra. He put an extra 100 into strength, putting it at 700, 50 into agility, stealth, physical defense, and stamina. Bringing them to 600, 500, 700, and 800. He still had 200 points left. So, he split them between magic and mana. Giving him 700 magic and 900 mana. He smiled as he saw his CLEARLY overpowered character build. I went from being an overweight, out-of-shape shut-in Neet, to freakin badass. He had the sheets from the others, and found them all stacked as well, but lower then his skills by a hundred plus each. Once their pages were done, he sat back and filed their small stack of completed bills away before looking at his HUD. He remembered the compendium idea and headed to the guild. He was walking down the staircase to the door and saw Sera resting in the grass of the enclosed mini courtyard. He smiled as he waved at her. My little sister is a freakin PRINCESS! He walked out whistling as he went to the guild. He walked in and the guild roared.

"Hail Outcast!"

"Hail!"

He walked to Verilica's booth and she smiled.

"What is it this time?"

"Well, I heard you make compendiums from bestiaries."

She laughed.

"We do. We just need to see your Bestiary."

HE pulled it up and she placed a crystal into it. She counted to three and placed the formerly clear crystal into a receptacle and the thing churned out over a hundred books from their creatures killed. He tilted his head.

"I can't buy one of those for the mansion, can I?"

The feral imp smiled with bared fang.

"You can. But you need to buy it here."

"Sweet. So, how you want you payment? Coin or lay?"

The guild busted up as Verilica gave him a rather intense pair of bed eyes.

"For you? BOTH."

"Well, let's get wicked."

She blushed and smiled.

"I get off work in fifteen minutes."

"Well, I'm sure I can waste that kinda time here. So, the fee for the crystal thing and the compendiums?"

"The compendiums, 95 silver, the Oracle? It's called an oracle, by the way. That's 2 gold."

"And laying with you is priceless."

She blushed again as her tail waved happily behind her. The men just applauded his word play as he placed the coins on the tray. He added the books and the breadbox sized Oracle that just looked like a weird slot machine to his pouch. Then he walked over to the job board as a way to pass the time. He looked at the never decreasing amount of jobs and smiled. This is REAL work! HE looked up and spotted a large poster that made him grin. He took it down.

"Wanted: slaying of an Ice Drakolisk. Reward 50 gold."

Tyler smiled.

"I LOVE fighting these things."

Verilica came over now.

"That one is a Guild Avenger quest. Last count, forty-three adventurers have fallen to it."

"My party's horses need a break for a bit. But, we'll still take this as we'll be ready for another round in a few hours. Plus, the mention of a Lisk fight is PLENTY for them."

That got a round of laughs.

"The Outcasts fight Drakolisks for fun lads!"

"Aye mate, it a little scary!"

Tyler chuckled as another poster caught his eye.

"Wanted: Slaying of a Grand Wyvern. Last seen near the Pride Mountain. Pride Mountain?"

"The spot the Hook Wraith lived."

HE looked over to see Wulf come walking over. Tyler chuckled.

"Am I THAT predictable?"

The ranger snorted.

"Yes you are. Plus, I figured we'd be headed out as much as we can often as we can until the wave starts. So, any of note thus far?"

"Got this for an ice Lisk."

Wulf smiled hungrily as he looked at it.

"An Ice DrakoLisk? We're going to need a bigger meat pouch."

"My plan here was to fully stock that meat box."

His red eyes lit up.

"It holds 10,000 pounds of meat and it won't go bad, even if it's left for ten years!"

"Exactly."

Tyler then looked at the Wyvern poster.

"Kinda odd how fast this thing took the den over. We just killed it, what? Yesterday?"

"That was a prime den, so it is highly sought after property in nature."

"Makes sense. We'll head out in a few hours, or when Kaori says the horses are good to go again."

The elf laughed.

"We're doing this again tomorrow right?"

"Yeah. That was my plan at least."

Verilica smiled.

"The Grand Wyvern's reward was increased to 35 gold due to it killing the adventurer that went out this morning after it."

"That sucks."

Wulf looked up at one bill.

"Got one for another giant camp."

"Those are fun. Where is it?"

"North gate and an hour's ride. Says here reward is 5 gold."

"Decent. Hey, that's an odd one."

Tyler pulled the bill down.

"Wanted: Destruction of a Cursed Wall. Reward is 25 gold. The hells is a Cursed Wall?"

Wulf chuckled.

"A living wall. Usually stone, that got possessed by a demon for some odd reason. They can be anywhere from ten feet tall to 150 feet tall, and stretch 300 feet wide. Why a Demon possessed a wall is a mystery every time they're found."

"I wonder if this falls under my deal with Tempesta? Since it's a demon and all."

Wulf crossed his arms.

"I'd say….no. It's not. As this is merely a Possessor Demon."

Tyler frowned.

"I wanna ask him, but same time don't wanna bother him for something like this."

Wulf shrugged.

"Your call."

Tyler looked at it, when he felt a weird vibration in the pouch he kept the catalog crystal.

"The hell?"

He reached in and pulled one of the blue communication coins Tempesta had given him to contact the king. He lifted the vibrating thing in his palm, and the image of Tempesta's eye was seen.

"I heard you have a question."

"Wow. Nifty. Just wondering if a Cursed Wall falls under the Demon thing we got going."

The lord of blue's image was seen to burst out laughing at the most unusual question. Then he recovered.

"You're insane. No it doesn't. They are in the same vein as Doppelgangers."

"Thanks big blue. Better safe then angry dragon."

"A wise policy."

Tyler put the coin away and took the bill.

"Wonder if Holy Sanctity would do the trick?"

Wulf thought for a moment.

"I'd say yes it would, as the spell was made to kill these kinds of creatures."

Tyler looked around as Verilica leered.

"When you've finished with the board, I'm free."

"Nice. I'll finish this and then in you."

She shivered as he walked to another spot and smiled.

"Wow. Got one for a Thunder Toad. Reward is 50 silver."

Wulf chuckled.

"Thunder toad? Nice find. The things are 12 feet tall, 20 long, 15 across, and their slime is worth a lot as a skin cream for women. Makes the skin softer and more radiant when refined."

"Wow, Wulf, you know a lot about women's products and what their made from. Got a confession?"

Oh the guild LOST it! Wulf for his part walked over and hit Tyler in the face.

"I hate you!"

"Well, we got a gift for Kaori and Ashy then."

"That's better. Fuckin asshole."

Tyler laughed as he took the bill. Funny enough, he spotted three more for the same creature in the same vicinity. He took them as Wulf pulled one down himself.

"Got one for a Wraith bear. Reward 90 silver."

"Wraith bear? I thought those were native to your homeland, Wulf."

"They are. Sometimes one wanders down here for whatever reason. Think that Thrall bear but this being a natural beast."

"Compared to juniper's teddy, how big?"

"Hmmm, maybe the same size? With dark grey fur, yellow eyes, and moves silently. They have an ability to turn invisible for a short period."

Tyler's brow furrowed.

"Wow, Wulf. Come to thing of it, we haven't really fought anything with abilities yet."

HE shrugged.

"Well, to be fair? We usually kill most things before they get that far."

"Yeah that's true. Can we eat the bear?"

"No. The pelt, however, is simply divine as a bed roll."

"Add that to out Thrall bear pelt."

Wulf was witnessed to get a most wistful look.

"Okay, just for that kind of comfort, I'll take this one."

"Nice. Hey. That's different."

Tyler took down a bill for a cat-like creature that was like a massive leopard with a pair of long tendrils extending from the muzzle.

"Wanted: Slaying of a Leopold pack. Reward: 2 gold."

Wulf smiled now.

"Leopolds are very good for their pelts. They're even better then most bears. Their meat is worthless, claws valuable, pelts the main target, and those long tendrils can be used for lashings. Plus a good pack has 10 creatures. They range in size from that table in length to me to you."

"So, 9 feet long and maybe 5 high. Not bad for a kittycat."

He took it as well, before looking over what they had thus far.

"Okay, we got a lisk, wyvern, Wraith bear, a giant camp, these Leopolds, four toads, and a Cursed Wall. We'll get one more and call it."

Wulf nodded.

"Then in the morning we do it all again, right?"

"Yeah. One last hard push before the wave hits."

they looked for a good one to round out the stack. Tyler smiled when he saw one.

"Hey, got one for an Earth elemental. Reward is 15 gold."

Wulf whistled.

"Damn. Those are rare. We kill it we're guaranteed at least some good quality stone, ore, and maybe a pair of gems for the eyes."

"That works."

Tyler took the last bill and Wulf headed off to go rest some more before the next rampage. Tyler added them to the pouch before looking at Verilica.

"ready?"

She smiled and they left the hall together. The pair made their way to Verilica's home where they stripped and he fitted into her warm entrance as they basked in their lust. He loving the imp girl as she bucked him and rode him in turn, filling her with cream as she got her next set of orgasms of the Outcast. They played for two hours before she was finished.

"Go on, finish is off."

HE kissed her as he did indeed finish. She sighing happily as her slit got it's latest cream filling. Then they laid together was they got their breath back. Tyler chuckled.

"I love this world."

Verilica smiled as she kissed him again.

"I love you."

He kissed her back.

"I love you too."

She sighed.

I'd like to sleep now. I have to work all day tomorrow."

"I'll go get our next raids set up."

HE kissed her goodbye and headed for his mansion. He walked in and went to his office and set the reference books on the shelves before placing the Oracle on his desk in easy reach. Then he laid the map out with the stack of bills on a nearby peg board for easy referring.

"Whatchya doin?"

HE looked up to see Sera poking her head in curiously. He smiled at her.

"Planning the next batch of raids."

"We're going on more?"

She walked in and hopped up to sit on a smaller chair next to his desk.

"We are. Those over there are the next targets."

She looked over and smiled.

"Another lisk? Yay! Food!"

HE rubbed her hair as Sallie and Sylvia took their shell forms.

"We're gonna go explore now."

HE looked at them.

"Be careful. I got the spells hardwired into the place, but you know."

Sallie giggled.

"we're gonna go take a dip in the hotspring!"

"Have fun girls."

The two spirits ran out of the office as Sera smiled.

"Now I wanna go."

"Well, make it a sister thing."

She hugged him.

"Kay! Sallie! Sylvia! Wait up!"

He shook his head as he heard the three sets of footsteps running down the hall. He looked at each bill and examined the spots they were to be found. The map had the majority of Vernillion filled in on the eastern side all the way to Yalik, plus the near entirety of the Elven Kingdom from Wulf's ranger map, plus the area around Term from the knights' maps, and now a massive area around Raylik from the maps from the store, bandits, and others. I kinda feel like I run more a business then a adventurers' party. He had a song playing in the background as he looked at the books,

"Still at it eh?"

He smiled as Kaori came in and kissed him before sitting next to him.

"Yup. We got our next set of targets there."

The blonde beauty looked at the peg board and smiled.

"Another Lisk and Wyvern? Just like our first adventure."

HE hugged her.

"Why I grabbed em. Though, this time? Please don't show off the goods to the Wyvern, okay? Beautiful as they are."

She hugged him as she watched him work.

"When do we ride out this time?"

"Once you give the clear on the horses for another run."

She smiled.

"They're fine. Just needed to get their breath back."

"Well, Sera and the spirits should be finished their bath by now."

"They are. They're cuddling in Sera's room. I got a picture."

She showed her crystal and he just smiled as he saw Sera entrenched between the warm bodies of Sallie and Sylvia.

"Nice one Shadow. I'll call muster."

He blew the whistle and the party came in after five minutes. He pointed to the peg board.

"We got our last batch for the day. After this we're done for the night. But, tomorrow we're doing just as many."

Lily saw the Cursed Wall and Earth Elemental.

"we can get good ores from those."

She then placed a small list on his desk.

"I be needin these for me smithy."

Tyler took the thing.

"I'll get to this after we get back. Anything else we need/want?"

Vixen smiled.

"I made a list of things I need to craft my own spells."

He took the list and smiled.

"Nice to see you using that Foxy nature I love so much. Oh, and here."

HE passed her the Adder's Bite in a small wrapping. Her dark blue eyes lit up.

"Thank you. I've been looking for this for a few years now."

Tyler passed Kaori the Horse Relief.

"Allow me to present the Lady of Horses her newest spell."

That got him a warm kiss as Wulf placed a list of his own.

"The garden has room for targets."

"No shooting from windows, but sure."

They laughed.

"Was think YOU'D do that!"

HE chuckled as Ashy made a request.

"I'd like to add a set of chairs on me balcony."

"Sure, Ashy. That sounds kinda nice actually. Reminds me, I need to invest in some enchantments for the place in the event of idiot."

Malico smiled.

"My father Houndra has our tavern enchanted against spells with a reflect spell, so I'd ask Seline."

"Nice to see my favorite kittycat's still got boobs and brains, Oh, and a sexy tail."

She purred as the requests stopped.

"We good?"

They nodded.

"Alright. You know the drill."

They got their horses and rode out to kill the lisk first as it was the biggest thing on their list. The beast had taken up residence in a cave in a large range two hours from the front gate. The range was able to be seen from the wall tops of Raylik was a tall set of rocks. As they rode, Tyler thought of something.

"Hey, Wulf, I was wondering something."

The party replied en mass.

"Oh shit here we go."

The ranger laughed.

"What surfaced this time?"

"Drakolisks and Wyverns are considered royal beasts, right?"

"They are."

"Then how come their bills popped up in the adventurer's guild?"

The native chuckled.

"Because they are usually restricted to those select few that have both the permit, rank, AND approval of both the town leader and the drown to hunt them. We, or I should say YOU, don't bother to really read the fine print since you both don't care and it's useless information."

"Huh. So, they post the bills in full view as a slap in the face. Nasty."

Wulf laughed merrily.

"You'd see it like that. Or, they post it as encouragement to both ingratiate themselves to the crown and town leadership with the benefit of improvement to one day challenge such a beast."

Tyler shrugged.

"I see that side as well. Having a bar to reach for is a powerful motivator."

"That it be."

They rode to the spot Wulf had pointed out for hitching, and the whole party readied for a fight. The place was a cold area, even though it was high summer. Tyler chuckled.

"Guess it uses ice breath."

Wulf smiled as they approached the wide open area.

"It does. Plus they coat their dens in ice as well. But, once it dies, the ice melts in a cloud of steam."

"Nice."

Kaori smacked him.

"Do NOT use that line."

He was indignant.

"I wasn't! I hate that song too!"

Ashy giggled.

"I have it!"

"Don't you DARE."

She bawled.

"Hey! I was six!"

"Shame."

"Shame."

The couple's condemnation of the girl sent a wave of curiosity through the group. And Sera asked the question.

"What song?"

Tyler patted her head affectionately.

"You are better off not knowing Sera."

They became nervous now as they looked at Ashy.

"It's not like that!"

Tyler chuckled.

"We'll show you later."

They shrugged as they walked out into the wide open area the lisk had made around it's den. There were pillars of ice sticking from the bodies of those that had already tried to kill it, and failed. Tyler chuckled.

"It worth looting them too?"

Wulf smiled.

"It is. As most will have coin, weapons, Licenses, gear. It's a common practice to loot the fallen on a hunt."

"Coolio."

They spotted the beast as it reared to address it's newest group of visitors with a bellow. This one had wide white wings instead of the mere stumps Tyler had expected. The thing was smaller then the black Lisk but bigger then the red. But those were the only true differences in appearance besides its pure white scales. Lily smiled as she saw the color.

"I be wanting those for me smithy."

"That's me elf."

She grinned now as the party moved to attack. Tyler, Lucy, and Thistle charged with their swords and axe as Vixen and Serafina cast spells, Lillica, Sera, Wulf, Ashy, Kaori, and Malico fired arrows, and Lily looked for an opening. The lisk drew in a breath, only to grow a mass of arrows from it's throat.

"Nice shot ladies! And Wulf!"

The ranger just sighed as he fitted another arrow.

"Bastard."

Tyler smiled as he swung Gliepnir into the right leg of the lisk, cutting it clean off. The massive thing fell onto it's side with a bellow as Lucy stabbed the thing through the groove Tyler had pointed out to her from their last lisk. The heart was pierced and it died. Soon as it did, the ice around the battlefield rose in a mass cloud of steam. Tyler groaned.

"Great. Wulf, Ashy, on watch. Loot the bodies around the outer rim to the last and move inwards. Every fucker with eyes is going to see that for miles. Lily, Serafina and Vixen we'll work the den."

They nodded and got to work, as the steam cloud rising above them was now a bright neon sign saying HEY! I'M HERE! Tyler and the three ladies dove into the ice free den and went straight to the back. There they found a four foot tall pile of coins. Tyler smiled.

"Nice haul this time. Okay, prospect the walls. I got no hollows but ya know."

Serafina and Vixen got to collecting the loot as Tyler and Lily used prospect on the walls as they searched. The industrious group cleared most of the wall rather quickly, finding veins of coal, copper, iron, tin, a rather thick one of Malachite, a new ore called Embercite, lead, clay, Andesite, a mass or granite, Quartz, and even a five ton slab of Blood sandstone.

"Hey! Tyler, we got idiots!"

Tyler sighed and left the cave.

"Keep at it ladies."

He left the cave to see a group of riders headed for the carcass the ladies were in the process of butchering. Tyler counted maybe twenty and walked over to stand between them and the lisk. HE drew his broadsword and planted the tip in the dirt as the group reached him. The man in the front was clad in gleaming plate mail and bore royal insignia. He looked at the group butchering the lisk.

"Sirrah. I be Captain Wulfgar of his royal majesty King Ishtar's Knights. Be ye the leader of this rabble?"

"I be. Name's Tyler the Outcast."

The man went pale.

"My apologies Lord. I meant no disrespect."

"Yeah, whatever. We're busy, sooo piss off."

The man pulled a scroll from his belt pouch.

"We be here on orders sah."

He gave the scroll to Tyler and he sighed as he looked at it.

"By the order of Vilisk Ligermen, fifth in line to the throne, the lisk and it's trove are to be retrieved from the adventurer or adventurers that claim it. Riiiight."

Tyler just tossed it back to the man.

"Sera! Lillia!"

The two royal girls hopped off the things back came over, making the Knights go white in the face.

"You're highnesses!"

They ignored him as sera came bouncing over for a hug.

"What's up?"

"Does the name Vilisk Ligermen mean anything to you?"

Lillica groaned and rubbed her eyes.

"I hate that guy. Likes to bully those under him to get his way. He owns an airship company out of Term."

"Airship company? Ya don't say. Yo, Wulfgar, lemme see that scroll a sec."

The ashen faced man promptly handed it over and Sera giggled.

"I know where this is going!"

He rubbed her hair.

"Love you too Sis."

she smiled as he pulled a blue coin out.

"King Ishtar."

There was a flicker before the king was seen in a hologram-like image. The knights got off their horses and knelt before the image of the King. Who sighed.

"I see the Lisk behind you, Tyler. What happened this time?"

"More practice then anything really. Just this idiots used this to try and steal it out from under us. Since this provides an opportunity for some gutter cleaning, well, you know the drill."

The king got a look at the scroll and burst out laughing.

"I see where you're going with this you wily bastard. I know that worm, and have been looking for an excuse to do something about him. And before you start, I'd like to retain my image of a fair ruler just a bit longer."

"Wow. Was gonna say why didn't you just have Kazuma 'stumble' upon some incriminating evidence?"

The king burst out laughing again.

"Because this one's more fun. Watch for the news crystal."

"Oh this oughta be good."

"So, how's me girls doing with their training?"

"Pretty good really. They had their first solo raids today on bandits and an orc camp. I stayed out of it, and they went with the Ranger, Lucy and thistle for the orcs, then Wulf, Vixen and Ashy for the bandits. Did just fine too."

The king beamed with pride.

"They're their mother's daughters."

"She lose it when she heard?"

"Oh she DID! Get this, she's currently sailing to Yalik to be here for the ball!"

The girls gasped in joy.

"Mommy!"

"Mother's home!"

Tyler rubbed their heads.

"Lymir's gonna have fun. That's for damn sure."

They laughed. Then Tyler looked at the knights.

"Yer good. We'll handle the rest."

Wulfgar kept his head bowed.

"My apologies for the rudeness Sah."

"Forgiven. Just, don't do it again."

The knights mounted back up and rode off as Tyler passed the scroll through the image to Ishtar. The king smiled.

"That it?"

"For the next five minutes. Oh, and we bought a mansion in Raylik."

"A beautiful town. The place have a name?"

"Spearview."

"HA! You jest!"

Tyler frowned.

"No, seriously, we bought Spearview. Why, something bad happen there?"

Ishtar wiped a tear from his eye.

"That was ole Gru's first base as well. Him AND Erica's. When we were running together, we used it as our base for two hundred years. Kinda fitting you'd buy it for your party."

"Kaori loves that master."

"I bet she does. Ser most likely took that corner room, and Lillica took the one by the street."

"Wow. Good calls."

"Who picked the place?"

"I let the ladies deicide, and that was what they picked."

"Of course you did."

"Well, that's all I got."

"Aye, Tyler. I'll go make that pompous prick cry."

The image died and Tyler put the coin in his pouch.

Ishtar smiled as the coin went dead.

"The boy bought Spearview."

The king got up out of his chair and looked at a phot of him, Gruven, His wife Erica, and Kaori's Mother Erica with Lyrica and Houndra standing outside the mansion.

"It's come full circle. I wonder how long until she finds it?"

Tyler looked to Sera and Lillica.

"Back to work you two. I'll go help the cave out."

They nodded and ran off as he headed back into the cave. As he did, he spotted Kaori's blonde hair by a leg. He smiled as he came up behind her and stole a kiss off her.

"Hey, guess what?"

She smiled as she set the knife down.

"You want me?"

"Always. But, Spearview? That was Gruven's first base with his party."

She gasped.

"You mean?"

"There might be something in there. Knowing YOUR mother."

Kaori was shaking hard, and he held her tightly.

"Use your detection when we get back, please?"

HE kissed her.

"Of course, Kaori."

She sighed as she stopped shaking.

"Thank you."

"I love you."

She shivered as he breathed it into her ear.

"I love you too."

He kissed her again before heading back to the cave. There he found Lily waiting for him.

"Got a bunch for you."

"Love you too Lily."

She smiled and showed him to where he'd left off. Vixen and Serafina were still loading coin, but were half way done.

"Okay. We got more iron, granite, some good tin, copper, a lot of coal, more Malachite, some corundum, and even ebony."

Tyler looked at her.

"Ebony? What's that used for?"

She shrugged.

"Decent weapons and armor. Sometimes decoration. Me? I can't use it yet as I need training in smelting it and working it. So, sell it."

"Sure Lily."

He dug the ore out with the Mine Skill as the body looters came in led by Malico.

"We're done with the bodies."

"Atta cat. Haul?"

"A few maps, 89 gold, 234 silver, 432 copper, some good armors, weapons as well, mostly steel with a few Magicite daggers and a spear, a few rings of licenses, but we've yet to really go through them, and a few pouches of potions."

"Damn Malico. That's a raid maker right there. Okay, go help Kaori with the butchering, please."

"kiss me!"

He kissed her sweetly, and she purred.

"I want you tomorrow at some point. Been a while."

He patted her back.

"Sure kittycat. We'll play tomorrow."

She smiled and went with Lucy and Thistle to help Kaori. Tyler and Lily stripped the cave clean of ore and went to help Vixen and Serafina with the trove. The party took the entire lisk as this point why not? The skull would be mounted in a trophy room with the Tyrant skull. The trove was cleaned to the last copper, and then the go over was performed. The trove? 3678 gold, 12432 silver, 5653 copper. Tyler whistled as he saw the number on the pouch.

"Damn. Now THAT'S a trove!"

They laughed as they left the stripped cave and helped clear the lisk away. Tyler and the party mounted up for the Wyvern raid next. And he and kaori shared a glance.

"Me, Malico and kaori will kill it."

The other smiled widely. Wulf chuckled.

"The first three, right?"

"Yup. Plus the Wyvern was the first creature we killed together. Hell, it WAS the first thing we killed together. Me, Kaori and Malico."

The party smiled as they headed for the Hook Wraith cave. Vixen had a thought.

"Once you kill it, I'd like to examine the cursed tomb."

"Sure, Vixen. We need to finished mining the thing too."

That got a chuckle. They hitched up at where they'd stopped the last time and the three went hunting. Tyler in the lead with Malico to his left and Kaori to his right.

"Been forever since we did a job together!"

"I know right?"

"Tyler, me, and Kaori. The original party. Brings back memories don't it?"

"Sure does kittycat. Once kaori here was a prim and proper poster child for purity. Now look at her."

"Right? A wild hearted sexy badass!"

"With the best and worst friends."

They laughed as they neared the place. The Hook Wraith was still there, and was very clearly being used as a food source by the Grand Wyvern. Tyler and the two girls took up spots as he threw a rock into the cave. HE smiled as he got a dull thud indicating he's hit the thing. The 20 foot long beast came sprinting out of the cave as he drew Oblivion from his back and dodged to the side. The two girls fired arrows into the side of it's head, confusing it. The moment's hesitation allowed Tyler to race in and stab the thing in the side of the head where the pine was in it's body. It died instantly and dropped with a thud. HE smiled as they came to look at it.

"Looks like the one that attacked you two."

"Yeah. I guess we got lucky."

Tyler leered at Malico.

"More ways an one that day. Right, Malico?"

She smiled as she remembered.

"That was a fun day."

The party got to work butchering it under kaori and Malico's direction as Tyler took Lily and Vixen into the cave. Lily got to prospecting as he showed the black mage the tomb. She chuckled as she cast a spell and the same black fog that had come off the hunters the last time was seen.

"You found the tomb of a fallen ruler. A human too."

He smiled as he stole a kiss off her surprised lips.

"We'll remember to include you the next time."

She smiled happily.

"Thanks. For that."

He hugged her and kissed her again.

"Can't have my favorite Vixen feel left out."

She kissed him this time.

"I'll join Malico tonight."

"As will I!"

Lily's eager voice was heard and it made the busty mage smile.

"Of course Lily. And so you know? They're very soft."

The poor elf shivered.

"Oh, you're MEAN!"

Tyler chuckled.

"Find anything?"

She recovered.

"Some Diorite, more Andesite, granite, iron, more Clay, and a bit of redsteel."

"Nice Lily. How far you get?"

"Maybe, halfway?"

"I'll need a new pickaxe."

She smiled as he started digging.

"I've got one ready to smelt for you."

"I fucking love you, Lily."

That set her glowing with pride as he dug the two tons of stone from the wall. Vixen went to join the others cleaning the carcass. Tyler and lily finished the cave properly, and walked away with more granite, clay, iron, redsteel, Blood Sandstone, Diorite, copper and even a good bit of Oremicah. The Wyvern was dismantled and stored before they rode to the next kill, the giant camp. Sera was curious.

"What type of giant this time?"

Tyler took the bill out.

"Says here, wow, Stone."

She smiled.

"Bout time I get to kill one MY way!"

"Damn fuckin RIGHT Sera! Hey, there's an idea."

The party laughed. Tyler looked to Lily on Malico's horse.

"Think when you get the time, you can make mini figurines of the creatures we've killed?"

Lily's red eyes lit up.

"Like mini trophies! I'd love to!"

He smiled.

"Good to hear. I'll got us a hutch for them."

Kaori smiled.

"Plus with how your memory works, all you'd need to do is see the thing and you'd remember every detail of the battle like it was yesterday."

"Yup."

They rode to the nearest safe spot to the camp and dismounted to go kill the things. The creatures had made their camp in the shadow of anther outcrop of stone and had it set like a fence. There were maybe 25 creatures inside, and all 30 feet tall. Tyler Lucy, and Thistle had their weapons out and were walking right up to the front door as everyone else took up spots for the bow. Tyler smiled as the party took their spots. The creatures had no idea until the arrows slammed into the things, dropping four as Tyler and the two axe wielders surged forward to cut the legs out from under the beasts as the giants struggled to react. Ten minutes later they were dead and the looting began. Tyler walked to the back of the camp and used prospect on the rock faces with Lily right beside him. He touched one and smiled.

"Got a hollow. But the rock is solid. Lily, your hammer, please."

She chuckled as she gave him the 10 pound sledge.

"Make a hole."

"Yes, your grace!"

"Eep! Bastard!"

HE chuckled as he drew the thing back, and then smashed it into the X Lily had drawn on the rock. It exploded into dust with a loud crack. Tyler waited for the dust to settle before looking inside.

"Vixen, got another tomb."

The black mage finished with her current giant and came to look. She held up a hand and tilted her head.

"Odd one this. We've found the resting place of a Gnome ruler."

"Really? Nifty."

Tyler looked around.

"Lily, YOU, Sera, annnnd, Lillica. I'll stand right here."

The girls smiled and went into the small chamber. Tyler leaned on his broadsword and watched as Lily threw the lid aside and dodged the initial shot. Vixen got a look.

"Minor Lich! Cut the head off!"

Tyler watched closely as Lily used her unbreakable shield to pin the thing against the lip of the coffin, as Sera and Lillica swung their blades to sever the thing's head completely. Tyler clapped as he walked in.

"Nice teamwork girls. This tomb's haul is yours."

Vixen was in agreement.

"Indeed. Well done."

The girls smiled and they got to looting as Tyler prospected the walls. As he did, Lily gave a noise of huh? He looked over as she lifted a two and a half foot weapon from the coffin. Tyler smiled as he saw the shape. It was straight for the first five inches, then formed a crescent moon shape with the blade and was made of Magicite. Lily looked at it before looking at Tyler.

"What is this thing?"

HE chuckled.

"I forget just WHAT it's called, but that's a anti-shielder sword. See that curve? It's meant to reach AROUND a shield. Here, I'll show you."

Lily took her stance as he took the small sword. HE then lightly swung the blade, and she tilted the weapon like she'd been trained, only for the more hook like part to grab onto the lip of her shield, and yank her off balance. She also felt it touch her greave.

"I see now. I'd like to try both making one, AND learning to counter it."

"Sure. You can keep it as a blank. But as to countering it? Let's swap."

He took her shield, and she took the blade.

"Now, BOTH sides of the blade have an edge. Remember that."

She nodded and swung at him with the weapon. Instead of tilting the thing AWAY from him, he tilted it DOWNWARD, and gave a slight push. Result? The blade caught, and was nearly pushed out of her hand as the thing was then directed downward, leaving her wide open for his own blade. HE smiled as they traded again.

"ready?"

"Yup."

This time he tried an overhead shot, and she stepped under his swing to push him with the shield and ruin his stance before jabbing him in the vest with her own weapon. He patted her as she retook her spot. This time he swung the weapon from under and she kept her eye on the hook like tip as she used her shield lip to both lock his own weapon down, and transfer the momentum into her own shot. She smiled now.

"I get it now. The hook tip is the most dangerous piece of the thing to me. Plus it's also the thing's weakness."

"Yup. These types of swords are more suited for hide shields as they usually cut right through em. But against metal? Not as effective. So, lily, think you have it?"

She nodded.

"I do. It's kinda an odd looking thing though ain't it?"

HE chuckled affectionately as he gave her the weapon.

"No arguments there."

"Hey, that was cool and all, but the camp and coffin are clear!"

Sera's cute voice was heard then.

"What's the haul?"

"Umm, 156 gold, 213 silver, 121 copper, that sword, a two foot Sapphire, and a weird dagger."

She held up the foot long thing. It had a similar shape as the sword, and Tyler smiled.

"That served the same purpose, Sera. Nice finds. I'll get back to rock looking."

Lily joined him, and they found some good red sandstone, black marble, a rather nice vein of Rose gold, and a five foot thick vein of silver. Tyler tore the stuff from the walls and they left to go kill the Leopolds. Lily was riding Tyler's horse now and was loving the attention. The leopard things were to be found on a large patch of grassland, and were active predators. As such, Tyler had chosen, Wulf, Ashy, Kaori, Malico, and Lucy as the hunters. They reached the place Wulf indicated and moved carefully to both not spook the things, and to get the drop on them. They crested a small rise and saw the pride of 15 beasts all longing around a small rock outcrop with a truly magnificent specimen perched atop the rock. Tyler smiled as he saw them. In looks, they were merely massive leopards with long tendril things on their faces. He looked at Kaori and shrugged as he pantomimed a picture. She smiled and winked at him as she tapped her eye. Fucking love you Shadow! HE pulled his bow, and so did the other hunters as they made a semi circle around the basking beasts. Once in position, they each picked a target, and took aim. They fired and six creatures dropped from the arrows and spear Lucy threw. The surviving creatures were on their feet, just to get another volley to drop the next 6. The one on the rock roared as it's tendrils sparked with electricity as it tried to ready an attack, only for Tyler's arrow to hit it in the heart as the two survivors were dropped as well. They moved in and the rest of the party joined them for skinning the beasts. Tyler took the big beast off the rock and Wulf commented.

"That's not a Leopold. It's actually a Tigeria. Same thing, but uses electric attacks."

Tyler looked at it, and smiled as he saw the evident black and orange stripes of the Tiger.

"Oh, I'm keeping this one."

They laughed as Wulf tossed him a knife.

"Their pelts are extremely soft and thick. Plus the claws and eyes are valuable too."

Tyler aided the party in skinning the creatures and storing them in the pouches. Lily then prospected the rock outcrop as it had become a habit to look at every rock they found now.

"Got something Lily?"

She smiled.

"Got more marble, iron, and another Malachite vein."

Tyler dug em out for her and she watched happily.

"Hey, Tyler? What's our next kill?"

"Umm, the thunder toads, Sera."

She smiled now.

"Their slime makes skin softer and brighter!"

Kaori blinked and Tyler sighed now.

"I know it does, Sera."

She squeaked as she saw his secret plan now. Then he smiled.

"But hey, nice to see you know."

Sera felt bad now, but Kaori hugged her for him.

"It's okay."

He patted her head.

"Yeah. I WAS planning to give it to YOU after all."

Sera squeaked hard as she blushed in embarrassment. Tyler and the party mounted up to kill the toads as Kaori rode up beside him.

"Another gift?"

"Yeah. Was hoping to surprise you, but well."

HE shrugged.

"Always next time."

"Sorry!"

"Yer good, Sera."

The sweet girl got a bunch of reassuring pats from the party. They reached the more marshy area and they all went this time since they were facing a group of larger creatures. Tyler snorted as they went.

"Great. Now what?"

"Hey, Ashy! PLEASE don't pull an Aqua!"

"Fuck you!"

She was PISSED! Kaori looked at her before busting up laughing as it clicked.

"Damn that was a good one!"

The party was so confused. So he explained.

"The name of a Water goddess in those shows we loved was named Aqua. She was stupid. Like walk face first into a wall after seeing it ten feet away stupid. She gets eaten by large frogs like four times. Right, Ashy?"

"I will shove this arrow so far up your ass YOU will be shot from my bow!"

"Yeeesh, Ashy! Ya got Wulf for that kinda thing!"

"Huh?"

They lost it at his dumbfounded response, and his now scaredly confused expression made even Ashy bust out laughing. Tyler chuckled as they kept moving as they recovered. They spotted the toads soon after. Tyler tilted his head when he saw them.

"Wow. They're blue."

Ashy sighed as he looked at the large toads.

"Don't say it."

"Hop to it!"

He got a smack from everyone in hands reach. Sera sighed.

"Wow, that was as bad as Momma's."

Tyler chuckled as they fitted arrows to bows as the things waddled around.

"Just wait till we meet, Sera."

The poor girl cringed so badly she had to renock her arrow!

"My soul hurts."

They smiled as they took aim at the four toads. They'd enhanced their arrows with piercers as to get through the slime and the skin. They fired and the things dropped with a oddly disturbing plop. The next task was the collection of their slime and slime glands. THAT was a dirty job. Then they were off. Tyler pulled the bills out.

"Okay, the lisk, Wyvern, giants, Leopolds and the toads are dead. So we have an earth elemental, a Cursed Wall, and a Wraith Bear. The Wall I'll use Holy Sanctity on."

Vixen smiled.

"That'll kill it outright. Plus the stone it used will be very good quality."

"We'll see what it gives us as it's our next hit, right Wulf?"

The ranger nodded.

"Yeah. Should be interesting."

They rode to the spot and hitched their horses as the whole party went due to it being a type of Demon and Tyler knew better then to underestimate the Demonkind. They spotted their quarry after a ten minute run from the road.

"What the hell?"

There was literally a 50 foot tall, 65 foot wide wall of solid stone just dragging itself across the plains. Tyler just sighed.

"Fuckin fantasy world."

They moved in to pick a fight with a rock. They moved in front of the thing and Tyler blinked as he saw the large dog-like face on the front.

"Yeah. Just gonna smile and nod."

The wall picked up speed as it saw the party. Tyler just cast his spell.

"Holy Sanctity."

The dome spell slammed into the Cursed Wall and it rumbled like an avalanche before falling over with a thud of thunder. Tyler just sighed.

"Okay. It's dead. Get the pickaxes out."

They laughed as Lily used prospect. She smiled.

"We got a mass of gold, silver, copper, more platinum, Blood granite, black marble, white marble, a mound of Blood Platinum, Black silver, and Pure Magicite."

"Damn. Okay, we see another one of these on the board we take it."

The party snorted as they collected the multi-ton mass of stone and ore. Once the thing had been collected, they moved to go kill the earth elemental. Lily riding Tyler's horse again.

"How's your arm, Lily?"

She flexed it.

"Fine. A little tired, but that's all."

Kaori smiled fondly.

"Still worried?"

"Yup."

Lily pressed into him.

"Thanks for worrying. Will-be Husband."

"Sure, Will-be lover."

She shivered and Kaori laughed.

"Oh he's got you figured out!"

Lily just smiled at the blonde.

"Love you too!"

Wulf sighed.

"Just gonna pretend to NOT hear anything."

"Ashy, if ya please."

The dirty blonde lip locked her elven lover at the behest of Kaori as they rode along. The ladies cheered the act, and Wulf chuckled.

"Better."

The jovial party laughed as they crested a hill and Wulf called the halt for the actual hunt. Again they all went in case of another near flatten. Tyler and Lily were eager to get more ore and goods to sell. They found the creature and Tyler tilted his head.

"So, we're fighting a giant Golem?"

The thing did indeed resemble a giant golem. As it stood 40 feet tall, was 25 feet across, had box like appendages, and shook the earth with each lumbering step. In color it was a deep brown with large glittering eyes. Tyler looked at Vixen.

And we kill it how?"

The black haired black mage smiled.

"Just shoot it there, center of the chest."

"Great. Yeah. I'll do that."

The party pulled their bows and Tyler got it's attention.

"Hey! Clayface!"

Ashy and Kaori snorted.

"Nice."

"Right?"

The thing turned around with more heavy stomps to see what dared challenge it's bulk, and found itself looking at the bows of a dozen adventurers. Tyler fired and the shafts grew out of its chest. The thing dropped to its knees with an impact that shook the ground very badly. Sera was caught off guard and fell with a squeak, right under the bulk of the thing's torso. The party were riding the waves and couldn't reach her. Tyler, however, could.

"Demon's wrath rage!"

He was under the thing as it was about to slam into Sera's tiny body. He caught it on his shoulders, and held the thing up with a look of such enraged hate sera ran from him screaming. Once she was clear of the bulk, Tyler threw it up and dove out from under it as it slammed back down, sending another ripple of an earthquake outwards. Tyler then dropped to the ground on his back panting. Sera was shaking horribly from the look on his face. Kaori was holding her as she asked him.

"What was that?"

HE was panting too hard to speak, so Sallie winked into view to do it for him.

"That was Demon's Wrath rage. It feeds directly off the rage in his soul he stockpiled for the Roar of the Forest. Basically, even if he's used the full power of the Demon's Wrath, as long as he has this rage, or an equally powerful feeling, he can FORCE it to work again. But, the strain is extreme, as he won't be able to move for the next 15 minutes, the rage twists his face into the look that terrified Sera, and this CAN'T be used again this week. It is, well, I keep hearing tell of this monster."

Kaori and Malico started shaking.

"It'll come back?"

"Stronger, and more vile then ever. Plus, it will KILL the Tyler we all love."

Tyler got his breath back enough to speak.

"What they said. This one is NOT one I had intended to use. PERIOD."

HE got his strength back and sat up to look at Sera.

"But, it's Sera. Can't lose my little sister to a mere rock, right?"

She gulped.

"IS it gone?"

"It is. And is NOT coming back. I promise by the spirits. I admit I panicked."

That got a look of awe from Kaori.

"Been years since ANYTHING rattled HIS cage."

Sera giggled.

"It's ME we're talking about! Course he lost it!"

Tyler got up as Lily was prospecting the thing.

"Well, I'm awake now. Kinda sorta."

Sallie got a hug from everyone before winking back to safety. Tyler popped a restore potion and got his pickaxe out.

"Well, Lily, what we got?"

She smiled.

"a lot. Blood platinum, black gold, a diamond the size of Sera, ten tons of red marble, some gold, silver, regular platinum, adamantite, and the outer coating is all red quartz."

"Did you say adamantite Lily?"

"I did Uncle wolf."

Tyler looked at the ranger's awestruck face.

"What? It special?"

"Yeah. It's used to make Adamant weaponry. You know Lily's Additite, right? This is that, but can be WORKED."

"How much Lily?"

"Umm, maybe, thirty feet of it?"

Wulf and the other natives gasped. Tyler looked at them.

"I take it this is beyond Tolic's skills."

The ranger sighed.

"Indeed. We'd need the flames of a High dragon like Tempesta to melt the ore, then a team of master smiths from the dwarven race to work the metal."

Tyler sighed.

"We'll hold onto it for now. We might find a way to use it."

They nodded and got to mining the dead thing. Once it was done, the party went to kill the Wraith bear. Tyler popped a High stamina potion as they went.

"You okay?"

HE smiled as Kaori pulled up next to him.

"Yeah. Just tired. I got enough in me to get the work done, have you, and that's it."

She smiled.

"If you can't muster the energy to lay with ME, you'd have to be dead."

"Damn straight."

The last bill they had to collect was near the northern gate and an hours ride. They made it in half an hour. Tyler, Kaori, Wulf, and Thistle went to kill it as the others rested in the saddle. Tyler followed the ranger to the thing's den. It had chosen to settle in a small hollow by the road with an alcove under a tree. Tyler and the other fitted arrows to bows as he flicked a rock in the alcove. The thing came out using it's invisibility trick, but Tyler smiled as his extreme perception made it merely a darker color. The thing moved as it tried to sneak around, only for Tyler's arrow to take it in the shoulder with a heart shot. It dropped dead and the spell was broken. The others just sighed.

"Of course he can see though an invisibility ability."

Kaori and Wulf skinned the thing as Tyler and Thistle looked around in the den. They came up empty and the bear was skinned, the claws collected, and the teeth taken. Tyler and the hunters returned to the party and they set out for Raylik. Tyler smiled at their haul.

"we made some really good coin today."

Malico smiled.

"We did. Best thing about the guild is just how easy it is to make good coin in a single day. Most people in the towns are part time adventurers, as the best way to make ends meet is to just go kill a few monsters."

Tyler nodded as they rode into the town.

"I hear that. Look at me and Kaori here. We went and turned 5 gold coins, into whatever's in here now. I mean you all helped, but you get my point"

They stabled their horses, and Tyler paid the lad his thirty.

"We're done for the day."

"Thankee kindly Sah."

Tyler dropped the Adamantite, tin, coal, iron, Malachite, Drakolisk skull and the wyvern skull off in the mansion before he and Wulf went to get their coin from the bills. They found Brook in the booth and she smiled as he laid out the bills.

"well done. Completed. Your total is 132 gold, 290 silver."

Tyler took the coins and they headed for the exchange. Grilock was seemingly waiting for them as they walked to his desk. The gnome just waved them to the scales.

"Surprise me this time."

Oh they DID. They laid out the lisk, wyvern, ore, and tendrils, Grilock just sighed.

"Well, I'm surprised. I'll give you 657 gold, 78 silver, 89 copper."

They agreed and went to the mason yard. The man just sighed as he waved them to his own scales.

"Your party is a better supplier of stone then the ones I get my stone from."

The dumped the minerals in and he smiled.

"I'll give you 1,232 gold, 43 silver, 1 copper."

"Damn. Deal."

The last stop was the bank, and when they laid out the ore, the dwarf slumped.

"What the hells? Your party makes finding the rarest of the rare look like art. I can give you 1243 gold, 54 silver, 99 copper."

"Wow, Wulf. I'm thinkin we're a little TOO good at this shit. Deal."

They walked away and tyler spotted Girplik at his desk.

"Might as well."

Wulf looked at the conversion desk.

"You need me for this?"

"Not really. You can go see Tolic."

The elf smiled.

"Plus the slime I'll take to the apothecary."

"How much does it cost again?"

"Maybe one gold tops?"

Tyler flipped him two.

"When WE seek to spoil our girls, we do it right."

The elf clapped his back and off he went. Tyler walked over to the desk and the gnome smiled.

"Another trove already?"

"We're a little TOO good at it."

The gnome laughed and they went into the small room. Tyler emptied the coppers in first and the total was 93 silver, 62 copper.

"19?"

"I hate math."

The gnome laughed again. The total for the copper? 74 silver, 62 coppers. Tyler next dumped the silver coins in. That got them 158 gold, 68 silver. Girplik smiled.

"So, 159 gold, 30 silver."

"32?"

"Sounds fair."

The total? 127 gold, 30 silver, 62 coppers. Tyler said farewell and headed for the spear to discuss enchanting his home. He waved to Yoko as he walked in and walked to the lady at the desk.

"What can I do for you, Outcast?"

"Looking for home enchantments."

"You'll want to talk to Seline then."

She brought the lift down and he smiled.

"Thanks Roxette."

She smiled as he rode the thing up. Seline was waiting for him in a gown of white and he smiled.

"Hey Seline. I promised kaori a full load tonight, so, sorry."

She sighed, and her tails drooped.

"Damn. I got my hopes up!"

He patted her rear as they walked to her desk.

"Tomorrow."

She smiled.

"Ya better."

HE chuckled as they sat down. She fixed him with her ice blue eyes.

"So, home enchantments?"

"Yeah. Looking to keep the fire off, idiots out, sounds in, and not show those on the street more an they deserve."

She flicked him with her red fox tails.

"Well, those are easy enough."

She placed a set of crystals on the desktop.

"Place these in the walls. That's really all there is to it."

"Nice. How much? Besides your ability to walk?"

"50 gold."

He gave her the money and as he took the crystals, he stole a kiss off her.

"I WILL have you tomorrow."

She shivered as he left her with it and rode the lift down. He walked back into the mansion and went to see Malico and Lily. He found the two girls in Malico's room cuddling and smiled.

"Hey, just saw Seline. She's feeling….lonely."

The two girls looked at each other, licked their lips, and left.

"Love you too."

"Very much."

He smiled as he then went to find Kaori to set the crystals up and use his detection. He found her in their room brushing her golden hair. She smiled as he came in.

"Seline still able to walk?"

"I told her I promised you a full load. Don't worry, I sent her Lily and Malico."

That got a smile as he hugged her from behind. She'd changed out of her leathers and armor in favor of a light shirt and shorts. He placed the home spells in front of her and she laughed.

"So, where we putting them?"

"Seline said to just stuff em in the wall. So, Shadow, where they going?"

Kaori got up to get on their bed and place a hand over the spot directly above the head board.

"Here."

Tyler smiled and got up beside her.

"I love the way you think."

HE placed his had on the spot and frowned.

"The hell?"

She looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"The damned thing gave a little."

He tapped a knuckle on the spot and it sounded hollow. He looked at her and nodded to the open door. She nodded and closed it before they sat together as he now ran his hand on the spot seeking a grove.

"Got it."

He pushed a smoother spot, and there was a click, followed by a one square foot panel slid out then to the side.

"If you were not looking for it, or KNEW it was there, you would not find this."

Kaori was shaking as he pulled a small sealed envelope, a wrapped frame, and a locket from inside the hidden alcove. He passed the envelope to Kaori and she took it with a shaking hand. He sat against the board and she sat against him as she open it. There was a letter written in a neat hand.

Dear Kaori.

If you're reading this really tropey thing, then welcome to Lectis. Fact you found this damned letter shows you've probably done VERY well for yourself, as that wily bastard Gruven has it enchanted to only open for the OWNER of the mansion we had built for us and our party. I love that idiot. I really do. But seriously? Having me write a letter to my daughter in another world in the hope she finds it? Whatever. Him and his batshit insane ideas. Well, sweetie, I'm sorry I up and left you to that father of yours. Why the hell did I marry him again? Eh, no biggee. You're readin this and in Lectis. Since you're MY daughter, you're bound to do just fine here. Hells, just tell you're the Fireball's daughter. Watch em shit themselves, I dare ya. I got a boon recently from a goddess I'm the Champion of the other year, and got a look at what you've been doing these last years decades. You look beautiful. Oh, and that ugly lug beside you, he BETTER fuckin take good care of you or I'll set his bitch ass on fire! But, I showed Gruven the image she gave me, and he just burst out laughing. Guess that runt's the son he had to let that whale of a girlfriend he'd had at the time we got summoned raise. Says his names was…..Tyler? Piss poor name, but whatever. That anger in his face is a little worrisome, and I se a shadow in his brown eyes that makes even MY blood run cold! But your smiling so he wins. So, since yer here, I guess you already know not to trust the church. Crown's bearable but only just. Ishtar's an idiotic, kind jackass with a wife FAR too good for him, but least he's on my side. Erica's a hottie! Weird when we're in bed though, since ya know, same name and shit. I love you sweetie. Okay? I really do. If your in Lectis readin this, odds are I'm still floatin about somewhere. So, just hold it together and I'll come see you eventually. Well, if YOU don't find me first that is! Oh, and if that lug came with you, well, Gruven's yer daddy. When he was a freshman he'd had the singularly BRILLIANT idea to sell sperm to a bank for some money. So, you popped up what? Five years later? Said they tracked him down since he and you shared blood. Gru wasn't in the best place to really raise a kid, as he'd gotten into some trouble and had to live with his then girlfriend. Yeah, kid. Your life's a mess from the start. But if you're reading this thing, well, that fire in your eyes, the fact you're Gru's spitting image, and you're next to MY daughter will all but ensure you do well here in Lectis. Just you BETTER take damned good care of kaori, or I'll deball you with a rusty draw knife! Oh, and before I fergit, you suck. Yeah, I'm THAT kinda MILF mom! Kaori sweetie, I look forward to seeing you again. I love you.

the Fireball

Erica Von Lectis.

Tyler held Kaori as he tried not to burst out laughing at the letter's way of writing. The blonde was shaking hard, and seemed on the verge of a breakdown.

"I got ya."

He held her tighter and she just burst out laughing. HE looked at her confused as she just cracked up laughing from the letter. He calmly waited for her to recover before she turned around and kissed him hard.

"Thanks for not laughing."

He held her tightly.

"I love you."

She smiled and then looked at the letter.

"I guess she IS a fireball!"

"And YOUR beautiful!"

She smiled again and kissed him hard.

"Wanna see the picture?"

"Sure."

They opened it and smiled, as it showed Kaori's mother, Erica, Gruven, Ishtar, Lyrica, Sera's mother Erica, and Houndra all standing around a fallen dragon Tyler didn't recognize. Kaori flipped it over and read the caption.

"Our adventurer party. Me and me lover Gruven. We decided to NOT get married as it would just make things difficult for you two."

Kaori just shook her head. Then she popped open the locket. She smiled as it was a picture of her as a child the last time she'd seen her mother. Tyler looked at it and chuckled.

"Wow, Kaori. You were cuter then Sera!"

She smiled hard at that one. Then she had a thought.

"Gruven was your father."

Tyler looked at her.

"I guess so."

She looked into his brown eyes.

"Are YOU okay? You killed your own father."

"To save YOU."

She gasped and smiled.

"Right. Sorry."

HE kissed her again.

"So, Kaori, what do you want to do with these?"

She put the locket on and placed the photo of the party on her nightstand. She then placed the letter back in the cubby, and the crystals as well. Soon as they were placed, they flared to life as the spells took effect. He closed the thing and he smiled.

"Well, we got quite the task ahead of us."

She hugged him.

"We'll find her."

"Damn right we will."

Then Kaori felt she had to make a point.

"No mother daughter threesomes."

"Umm, Kaori? The HELL?"

She just smiled sweetly.

"You ARE a lady killer."

He sighed and flopped down onto the bed.

"Let's just take a bath and get some food."

"Sure."

They headed out and heard Melly's giggle from Sera's room, and it made them both smile. They took the hotspring bath and relaxed together as Sallie and Sylvia played together beside them in the pool. Kaori resting on his chest as they soaked.

"I love you, Kaori."

She smiled.

"I love you too, Tyler."

Sallie and Sylvia snuggled up to them as well in the water. Once they'd soaked enough the pair went to the now well-stocked kitchen and made their favorite lisk recipe, with a recipe for ketchup Kaori had found. The hungry duo loaded up and went to their own little sitting room Tyler had set up as THEIR spot outside the bedroom. The two spirits had gone to play with Sera and Melly so they were alone. The pair ate as they rewatched old shows from their world, just loving the other's presence. Kaori cuddled up into his chest as they finished a rewatch of their favorite show and she yawned.

"Ready for it?"

She licked her lips.

"Always."

They cleaned their dishes in the sink before sprinting to their bedroom and slamming the door before stripping and jumping into bed. He mounted his love and they went at it. Her screaming hard as she was loved by her lover and him making her scream. The two lovers made the walls echo for four hours before they collapsed to the bed exhausted. There they lie with him beside her as they recovered. Kaori smiled as she snuggled up to him.

"I got a crystal on the stand for us."

He kissed her as he added the news crystal to his HUD.

"Tonight in Vernillion. The wave is in two weeks plus 4 days. The ball is five days before the start of the wave. And reader? The Outcasts are STILL going strong. Today alone they took no less then TEN different bills from the board in Raylik. The creatures ranging from an ice drakolisk and a grand wyvern, to a Durandal, Cursed wall, and all the way down to orcs and goblins. Tyler was quoted to say.

"We're just practicing now."

Reader if these creatures are just mere PRACTICE for them, then we're safe. Kazuma the kind has also been polishing his skills, but in his own words?

"I'm just going to get behind Tyler's line. Knowing that guy? Ha, he'll have ten."

The Viscount is kind to a fault, and it would seem that kindness came back to haunt him a little. Not a bad thing, really, but sometimes it's okay to say no. Ishtar made a statement regarding the pair.

"Tyler and Kazuma are polar opposites. But, since Tyler and his sister are lovers, they tolerate each other. Tyler's party is ready. Kazuma made the mistake of getting too wrapped up in helping people, but he'll be fine. The others will die. And I cannot WAIT to see their grave plots filled."

The world feels the same way, Your Highness. In other news, Queen Erica Von Vernillion is set to return to Term in three days for the Warrior's ball, and, in her own words.

"See just what's become of me girls under the eyes of this so-called Outcast. Oh, and I PRAY the stories of his bedroom prowess be truth."

Reader, that Outcast is the luckiest bastard alive. Lymir was seen to be prepping her room for the high Queen's return as it is an open secret the beautiful, feisty queen loves a busty mermaid. Max of the bandit brigade has been haunting Term as he and his band await the gates opening to let them back in. Ishtar was also heard to make a statement to them.

"The Outcast will be in the city, boy. Piss em off and he WILL kill you. And he has the full permission of the crown to do so. Though, knowing him? It is going to hurt. A LOT."

The king is eagerly waiting to see Max scream. And so aren't we all. Of other note, is the replacing of Vilisk Ligermen of the South Term Airship company. It seems the man had overstepped his bounds in the court by suing his position to steal the trove and Lisk carcass from the Outcast party after they killed it. Ishtar humiliated the weasel of a man in front of the court using both his failings to in the king's words,

"do something of actual worth."

The king used this incident to both remove the man from the line of succession, and his airship company. He then placed the company under control of the crown as the rules for the ships put in place by the dragons are still in place. In other news, Queen Willow Hammershot made a statement as her city has thrived under her rule.

"It seems me girl is doing just fine. Hey, Outcast, Warlund and Marlene wanna see their girl some point after the wave."

"The Queen of the elves refused to elaborate as to WHO she meant. In world news, a legend that has been silent for the last few decades has made waves in the distant land of Yaeger. Who might this legend be? None other then the Fireball herself."

"Mother?"

Kaori was shaking again, and Tyler hugged her.

"We got a place to look now."

The blonde kissed him gratefully before they kept reading.

"That's right, readers of Lectis. The Fireball was made an explosion yet again. She is being hailed responsible for the mass slaughter of a Giant army numbering in the thousands as they attempted to attack the capital city. Eyewitness reports state her trademark explosion spell, which according to legend killed a high dragon, was seen before the army was turned to dust. She has since disappeared again as she does every time she appears. Though, this time? She was seen riding that white stallion of hers in the direction of Vernillion. Whether she keeps this path is most likely not going to happen. If the Fireball is headed for Vernillion once more, well, it can be for only ONE reason: She's heard of Ole Gruven's fate. If that is the case, then Outcast? RUN."

Tyler smiled in the dark as he closed the HUD.

"run? Nah. I'll sit right here and wait fer her."

Kaori smiled as well.

"We'll be waiting."

He took her hand.

"Together."

"Together."

she rolled onto her side and snuggled into her side with her head on his chest.

"Good Night, Tyler. I love you."

He held her tight.

"Good Night Kaori. I love you too."